Fastening means



June 2, 193 l N.; M. WHn-MORE 1,808,195

FASTENING MEANS Filed July 2, 1929 Patented June 2, 1931 Y HILL SHOE NOVELTY COMPANY, OF HAV lor MASSACHUSETTS s PATENT l OFFICE *y ATHANIRL M. WHITMORR, or CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASsIGNoR To HAVRR- A ERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION FASTENING MEANS n Application ined July 2, ieee. serial No. 375,538.' l

This invention relates to connectible and disconnectible fastening means of the type adapted to connect straps, or similar flexible members, and it is especially adapted for the connection of straps which are iixedly se# cured to the opposite sides of a shoe, for example as distinguished from those straps A which are free to slide. A n object of vthis Y position.

invention is to improve the constructionof fastening means of the type described. s

When straps which are'fixedly Secured to an article are connected it will be obvious that the final position, which the fastening-employed will assume after vthe straps have been pulled taut and fastened together, will depend upon the contour and the dimensions of the obj ect embraced by the, straps. Y While this nal position may be readily determined for. any given object, it isoften necessary to provide straps for embracing objects which may vary in size, and in this event, it will be clear that the final position of the fastening willvary with the size of the object. Al-v Itv is a more vparticular* object of this invention, therefore, to provide relatively fixed straps: with a connectible and disconnectible fastening capable 'of holding the straps taut and embodying means for adjustment of the fastening relative to the strapsso as to assure thatthe fastening will occupy a definite, predetermined position after the straps have been connected.

' lowing description and claimstaken in con.

This andV other objects are effected bylmy invention,'as will be apparent from .the folnection Awith the l accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and inl .which Y` Y Figs. 1, 3, and 5 are face views of different types of buckles, the straps for the respective buckles being shown in position for insertion;

Figs. 2, 4, and ,6 are, respectively, longitudinal sections through the buckles shown -in Figs.` 1, 3, and 5', showing the straps in position in the respective buckles; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a shoe.

In accordance with the present invention` a main buckle is provided Awith an auxiliary fastening means', which' is, preferably, Van auxiliary buckle arrangedto be 1 adjustable lengthwise of one of the straps, 'and to lbe capable of securely connecting the main buckle to such strap. In thisl Way it is possible definitely to locate the mainA buckle in any desired position with respect `to the objectembraced by the straps, and, once this position has been ascertained and the auxiliary buckle properly adjusted, it isv merely necessary to fasten the main buckle in the usual manner. Y

In Figs. l and 2 the ina-in` buckle 10 YisV of a familiar type and comprises the rectangular frame 11 having a cross-bar 12 arranged transverselyand extending between the side members'of the frame ll. Thebar lQ-has a reduced central portionl 13 which provides a journal for'the eye 14; of the buckle bar 15. The end portions of the barf12 are also reduced to provide journals-16 for the spaced eyes 17 of the auxiliary buckle 18. This auxiliarybuckle is rectangular in form and has a cross-bar y19 arranged transversely between the side members of the frame and equally spaced from the ends thereof to' provide Suitable recesses for receiving the strap 20. Thecross-bar 19 is, preferably, so arranged -with respect to the end membersy of the buckle 18 as -to cause'the strap to: take a rather sharp' bend as it passes over this cross-bar and under the end members of the frame. In this way it is assured that the strap 20 will be firmly held by the auxiliary buckle 18, and by` virtue ofthe pivotal con.- nection of this auxiliary buckle to the bar 12 of the main'buckle it ispossible, by merelyrrotating the auxiliary buckle slightlyon this pivotal connection, toreinove, or to inv isy sert the strap 20, and at the saine time it is` tion With respect' to the strap 20, the strapV 21 is inserted in the main buckleand the buckle barl lfengaged inoneof theaeyesfQ?. of the strap 21 inthe usual manner.

It Will be observed that in thismodifica-` tion, both the main buckle 10 and tlieauxiliary buckle 18 are convexe-concave in form,

and that the concave sides of: the: respective-f buckles are arranged adjacent toeach other. This hasibeen found to `be a` desirableV arrangementasl it provides a suitable space beneaththe strapQl for receivingtliatpeiy tion of the strap 20 Which lies directly abovel the *bai` 19` ofthe" auxiliary buckle, and thus,

provides alcompact arrangement which perA mitsv'the main buckle to reinainfin :itsoperative position. It Willalso be observed that.,

the eyesl? of the auxiliary bucklellare disposed substantially? on' thev concave side of the-auxiliary buckle, so that the axis, abouti Whic-hthe auxiliary buckle is rotatable with respect to the vmain buckle, isdisposed on'tlie concave'side of the buckle. This feature also foldedclosely adjacent to the inai'nbuclrl'e,

and at the same time provides a suitable spacebetween the two buckles andthefstrap -21 for.

that portionof the strap 20 which lies di` rectlyabove the bar 19. Furthermore as'tlie auxiliary-A buckle is' approximatelyliaflf the length of the inainbuckle and is falsof-meunte ed to pivot about an" axis disposedA approximately midway between the endsof the-main buckle, it Will beevidentiv that the auxiliary buckle is' adapted?, to bey sir'ungito. a' posit-ionv in Which its free endliesclesely adjacentthe end of the main buckleas shown-.fv Tn this position the free' end of` the auxiliary lbuckle may cooperate With the adjacent end' ofthe mainbuckle 'to produce j a grippingv action on the interposed strap 21'.. p 'f In Figs( 3 and'4 themaiii buckle 25 has a rectangular frame 26 which issubstantially flat. andl extending betweenftlie sides otgtliis frame, and intermediate lthe ends thereof is abar .27 WhichV-is-provided Withjournals 28- adj acent, the side l members forV ,receivingA the eyes 17 ofthe auxiliary bucklelS. "Therens thral portion of ther bar 27 isfprovided:` With longitudinally extendingi tongues. 29 for Vthe purpose: off reducing thelspace betiveenffthe endl. members Vof the fra-nie 26, sof tliatrtl'ie strap 21maybe passed under one end-inember, overl the -bar`27 7 and under the other end member and-'belieldE frictionally intlie buckle in tliis manner. The arrangementofithefauss '1 iliary buckle 18Y and of thestrapAQQtherein The buckle 31, shown in Fig. 5, has a rectangular frame 32 which is convexo-concave and is provided with suitable recesses 33 ex@ tending"transversely across the VbodyV of the buckle adjacenttherespective ends lthereof for the purpose Vof receiving the. strap 214 to engage the` samefrictionally in the manner described! with. reference to Figs.4 3 and'l.'

In the central portion. of'the buckle, .adj acent thesides thereof, suitable journals 34 are providedby'stamping, or otherwise forming suitable` recesses 35:in:thebody of thebuckle.

f The journals 34 receive the eyes 17 ofthe auxiliarybuckle 18*V and; thus Vprovide aipiv` otal connectionwfon the auxiliary buckle` the saincima-nner.f as described: vvith-v reference.`

toaftheyother fig-uresa;v rEhe auxiliary. buckle;

inifthisinstance i's-'similarrto the auxiliary buckle 13s-hewn inA the Aother-f lfigures of: the. diawings.:V f 1 Y VThe advantages Y of4 this construction# hecome more apparent. when. itV is considered? in eonnectionjvwith straps tixedly: secured'tok some article1su`ch, for example,.as-the"shoe 38Uof'fFi'g-- 7. This shoe is5providedWitha.

bueklef 10'rof'f the type shownuin- Fig.. 5, al-

theugli, Aof course-any of theftypesofbuckles just described or: other similar buckles might. bel used ifVv desired It iis Well. knoWnyt-hatit is-fi'equentlynecessary tovmovela buckle 101 Oneway-orf another on the strapQO in` order toE assure-thatthebuckle -W-iflllbe properly een t'eied` 'and Voccupy j the cerrect position after thesstrap 21E is! fastened. This may: be ac-- complished with' any-:ofthe buckles disclosed! l by" merely Velfeeting the proper adjustment offthe strap 20 Vvvfitl'ii the auififiliary:` bucklef18, andiinfthis Wayf'itr is @possible te zwoidtheA -inconvenience as Well; as'athei loss of time` andi addition-all laborinvolvedf' in,` resetting a buckleoflfthe-usual type.= Q l `While severaflifo'rmslof thisfinventioniliave been l'shown and described, it- Yvvillf be'vobvious that various ni-edica-tiens# thereof will loccurY to I thoseski-lledthe-art2 to"V Which 4 the inh ventiofn appertia'ins, and? it yWill be understood tliatSt-he inventioirislnot limited@` except as in# dicatedpby the appendedclaims.v j

j jlln' a buckle'foruseonstrapsixedly'se# cured` at`the`i`r ends 'to Voppositesides of the closureslit, ofa-n article for'V centering' the o buckle, a main" buckle-frame' comprising side, andi4 end' members, themainibuckle frame having strap -receiving Iopenings adjacent the end' members `so' thatV a strap may "be passed through. these openings and `underzeacl'r offthe end ri'iembers,YV means" for releasably securing a strap4 inthe main' buckle frame, a concavof ies convex auxiliary buckle of. approximately half the leiigtlizof the I iiainbuckle frame, the auxiliary' buckle-being mounted to' pivot. on

the main buckle frame about an axis disposedtransversely of this frame and approximately midway between the ends thereof so that the auxiliary buckle may swing with its concave side adjacent the main buckle frame to a position wherein the free end ofthe auxiliary buckle is disposed adjacent an end ofthe main buckle frame, the auxiliary buckle having transverse slots for receiving and frictionally holding a strap. 2. 'In a buckle for use on straps ixedly secured at their ends to opposite sides of the` `closure slit of an article for centering the buckle, a mai-n buckle frame comprising side and end members, the 'main buckle frame having strap-receiving openings adjacent the end members so that a strap may be passed through these openings andunder each of the end members, means for releasably securing a strap inthe main buckle frame, a 2o concavo-convex auxiliary buckle of approximately half the length of the main buckle frame, the auxiliary buckle being mounted to pivot on the main buckle frame about an axis Y disposed transversely within this frame approximately midway between the ends thereof, this axis also being disposed on the concave side of the auxiliary buckle so that the latter may swing with its concave side adjacent the main buckle frame to a position wherein the free end of the auxiliary bucklel is disposed closely adjacent an end of the niain'buckle frame, the auxiliary buckle having transverse slots for receiving and frictionally holding a strap, these slots being closely spaced to form a relatively sharp bend Y in the strap secured thereinso that this bend c may be disposed in the space between the 'Y concave side of the auxiliary buckle and the main buckle'frame and provide a compact 4c nested arrangement oi' vmain and auxiliary buckles.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 26th day of June, 1929.

NATHANIEL M. WHITMORE. 

